Modification of morphological, structural and optical properties of graphene oxide by alteration molarity of aqueous KMnO₄ solution

Abstract

This work reports a nontraditional modified Hummer’s method to synthesize graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets by adjusting the oxidation process via a different-molarity potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) solution instead of utilizing its powder. The effect of KMnO₄ concentrations on the structural and morphological properties of GO nanosheets was studied. Oxidant solutions of 0.5 M, 1 M and 1.5 M were experimented to control the properties of the GO layers. Then, the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Raman and ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopes. Finally, oxidant concentration was optimized at 1 M by which thinner, high-quality crystalline GO layers and wider bandgap energy ($E_{g }$) were obtained. It is thus confirmed that such a modification in the oxidation is a pioneering process to improve the GO properties.

Keywords:

• Modified Hummer’s method
• Oxidation of graphene
• Synthesis of graphene oxide
• Raman spectroscopy of graphene oxide

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the support provided by the Department of Physics, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq (https://uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Department of Physics, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.